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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jonathan Liew

Commentators have taken over but it’s time to let game do the talking

BBC Television Football Commentator, John Motson, working in the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City prior to the opening match of the 1986 World Cup Finals between Italy and Bulgaria on 31st May 1986. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Viewers used to hang on every word from John Motson, one of the gods of the gantry. Photograph: Bob Thomas Sports Photography/Getty Images

Somewhere in a reinforced concrete bunker in the northern hemisphere, Paul Dempsey is still talking. He was talking long before you turned the television on and you can be sure he’ll be talking long after you turn it off. He’s got a list of names in front of him, stats and facts, reserves of time and patience that will outlast any human, living or dead.

Here’s Lautaro Martínez, who has never scored a volley in October. Lays it off to Francesco Caputo, who owns four hats. That’s Jackson Borck on the Sampdoria bench, who joined in the summer from Fighting Spiders in the Maltese Premier Division, whose next game you can catch on BT Sport 8 on Thursday at 11am. Now here’s Denzel Dumfries, who has never tasted jam.

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